After refusing to sign concession contracts resulting in stalling the privatization procedures of the Thessaloniki Port Authority (OLTH) for over two months, Shipping Minister Theodoros Dritsas is out of a job.
Dritsas’ departure from his post has officials close to the privatization project hopeful that bids for the Athens-listed cooperation will have a set deadline for January 2017.
There is 67 percent of OLTH up for grabs and the state privatization fund, TAIPED, as well as the government are focusing on keeping investors interested in bidding for the port corporation.
Currently, there are four groups interested in OLTH Dubai Ports World, Mitsui from Japan, International Container Terminal Services from the Philippines and Deutsche Invest. APM Terminals – controlled by Denmark’s Maersk is rumored to have lost interest since it first appeared on the scene last spring. Now with Dritsas out if the picture, officials are hoping to move the procedures along in a timely manner to not lose any of the four potential bidders left.
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